67442nut

I am in the process of resurrecting a '67 4-4-2 post car I've owned since 1969.
Although I have much of the original car, the body was destroyed in an arson fire years ago.
I'ver acquired a replacement body, but the trim tag is not correct.
I'm sure someone is making trim tags to order, I just don't know how to contact them.
Does anyone know how might get info to get this done?
Thanks in advance for any he help.

halfmoontrail

A.G. Backeast, http://www.datatags.com/

67442nut

Halfmoon, thanks for the help.

66-3X2 442

http://www.trimtags.com/

Diego

Why not leave the original trim tag on the replacement body?

TK-65

This isnt going to end well.

Hairy Olds

^^^^^^^ x2

66-3X2 442

^^^^^^^^X3

We will have the experts weighing in on repo cowl tags & rebodies.

ent72olds

Let the fun begin!

67442nut

After pricing a new one, I may just do that.
$225-$235 for a replacement tag!!
I realize this is a very specialized craft, but, I can't help but think that
a good profit can be made without charging crazy money.

The original body was destroyed in an arson fire.
The trim tag was a melted mass of aluminum.
The trim tag on the replacement body isn't close to correct.
There is some sentimental value attached to this car for me,
so I'd like to make it as correct as possible.

I will more than likely have a new tag made eventually,
but it may be one of those final detail things I'll do
once the car is at or near completion.

Octania

pay the man and get exactly what you want
The machinery and expertise are worth that.

in a restoration, $100 bills flow like water anyhow, what's two more of them?

TK-65

Exactly.

67442nut

That's more than likely what I'll end up doing.
It's really the only way to make it right, at least as right as it can be.

tecar442

I'm in....With a replacement trim tag you can make it whatever you want!

Tedd Thompson

Thats fine if you keep it forever but when it gets sold someone is buying something it is not. Many illegitimate cars are made that way...Just my openion...Tedd

Koda

I have no issue with a replica, correct trim tag.

lemoldsnut

I have a correct and original 67 4 speed 442 with the correct original cowl tag. It is messed up from when someone pulled the body and rubbed against it with something. It is legable but not nice. So, I am considering replacing it to match when the car is finished.

What is the difference between replacing a burnt body tub like the previous post and someone who has replaced the floors, roof, quarters, trunk floor, rear panel, doors fenders and hood? Replacing a body tub with a solid not pieced together body tub is a much sounder car in the end. I am pretty sure the one piece good body tub will be much more correct and sound then a pieced together one.

Just my input.

I do not support creating fake tags.

66-3X2 442

Re-bodying a car is totally acceptable. As a matter of fact,GM sold body shells through GMPD back in the day. Yes there is a difference between a re-body and a clone.

67442nut

I've owned this cart since 1969. I have no intention of selling the finished product.
If I were to consider selling it, I would make the history of the car clear to any potential buyers.
If my intention was to deceive or hide information, I wouldn't be discussing my plans in a public forum,
especially one of the major Oldsmobile websites.
I am simply resurrecting this car to my own satisfaction.
Although I'll probably do the trim tag to satisfy my own preference for correctness, it's not that big an issue to me.
The only time anyone will see it is when the hood is up at a cruise-in or some other show or outing.
99% of the people who will see it won't know if it's correct or not anyhow.
The body shell that was destroyed was stripped down and most of the other parts were stored at another location.
I'll be reusing the original front end, frame, doors, instrument panel with the original odometer,
4-speed shifter & console and V.I.N. tag.
Considering the fact that I basically had two choices, either rebody the car and have it continue to exist for posterity
or abandon the resurrection idea and let an original 4-speed post body '67 4-4-2 cease to exist.
I took the first option.

Allan R

I don't see that there's any issue with replacing the trim tag with one that correctly represents the car. IMO the OP isn't asking for something unusual or illegal. Body shops have legislation supporting this kind of activity, so I don't see why the OP can't do it since he's not trying to be fraudulent about anything.

Ed, if you have the original trim tag and it's not destroyed they come off fairly easily. I started taking them off cars in the boneyard just to start a collection of them for interests sake. Got a whopping huge collection of 2 plates from 1971 Cutlass Supremes. They're not hard to remove, just get the right rivets to put it back on the donor body and you're good to go IMO.

RandyS

All of this discussion on the trim tags & proper rivets has me curious.... how do the rivets get reattached? Is there a special tool? Are they like pop rivets?

allyolds68

They are soft aluminum. The easy way is to put a hole in the center of the rivet head with a ***** punch that is large enough to pass a small threaded fastener through. Put a washer on each side, install with a nut and tighten it down. This will squish the rivet. Remove the fastener and apply a little caulking to the top of each rivet and it looks just like the factory did it.


My cowl tag was hammered and one rivet was torn out when I got the car so I replaced them both. Replacing trim tags yourself is legal in very state except Oklahoma

pogo69

99% of the people who will see it won't know if it's correct or not anyhow.

I like this one

Run to Rund

Olds parts Dept. offered every part, including the body shell, except for a cowl tag and a VIN tag. People who object to reproducing or changing either or both of those two parts would refer to what GM did back in the day. I kept the VIN and cowl tags from the donor car when I re-created the Rund car, even though I know the VIN of the original car. That way, I avoid anyone claiming "fraud" even though it should be obvious that a re-creation is not the original car, and it doesn't matter what it started as, whether a "real" 4-4-2 or not.

66-3X2 442

How bout this. You take a 64-67/72 Cutlass and add the 442 option to it,is it 'real'?

67442nut

Allan,
I wish I DID have the original tag, but, it was cooked in the fire.
What was left was a gob of melted aluminum.

My driver is a '67 CS bucket seat, console post car.
I've done the 4-4-2 hood, grille, emblems, rear sway bar so far.
I've also blacked out the upper tail light bezels and trunk molding.
I have an original '67 4-4-2 drive train I plan to eventually "transplant" into it.
(I really love driving the 330 with the 700-R4. Easier on gas, too.)
I plan also to add the 5/16" return fuel line.
To me, functionally and cosmetically, this will be a '67 4-4-2.
No it won't be an ORIGINAL '67 4-4-2 and to most, it won't be
a "REAL" 4-4-2 since it wasn't one from the factory.
Fair enough.
It will be what I consider to be a true clone,
not just a Cutlass with 4-4-2 emblems as many describe as a "clone".
A TRUE clone is an exact copy of the original item being copied.
I don't intend to pass this car off as an original factory built 4-4-2,
but it'll feel and look just like an original 4-4-2.
I know it sounds like I have some really "bastardized" cars and I guess I really do,
but they're what I have and I'm happy with them.

66-3X2 442

I think you missed my point ED. What I'm asking is and it has nothing to do with what you're doing,if a guy takes a 64-67/72 Cutlass and adds the 442 option,is it a 442 or not?

Hairy Olds

In my opinion if your not trying to make this a real 442 and are not too concerned that it will never be your old car why even change the trim tag.
Then when you or if you part with this car the tag will tell the next owner what it really is.
Are you changing the vin tag also?

Allan R

Chances are then the VIN tag on the A pillar also melted down? If that's the case I'd just use the donor cars VIN and Cowl tag to represent the car. No matter which way you slice it, this is not going to be a factory 442.
- you're not trying to represent it as a factory 442
- you've stated it will be cosmetically a true clone (except for trans)

Replacing the VIN is a hot topic, replacing the cowl tag is a MEH issue. If this is going to be your personal fun car, I'm with the others who suggest leaving the donor cars provenance as is and just do the cosmetic and mechanical things you want to make it a fun driver.

Diego

Why must the data plate be replaced when it's attached to a perfectly good body?

Allan R

That's what half of this discussion is about. No reason to replace it at all since it's being built as a cosmetic clone 442. Same with VIN. My 2¢

67442nut

I know many, especially the purists, will disagree with my opinion on this subject, but,
my feeling is if someone clones a Cutlass into a 4-4-2, and every detail is correct, then it is
cosmetically and functionally a real 4-4-2.
But, it IS a clone not an original, from-the-factory, 4-4-2 and should not be portrayed as one,
if only to be fair to those who have invested in the original, factory-built cars.
Bottom line is I have no problems with clones as long as there is no intent to deceive.

I think we're confusing the two cars.
The car with the trim tag issue IS a true 4-4-2 that is being rebodied.
I will consider it to be my old 4-4-2 with a replaced body shell.
I am using the original V.I.N. tag from the burned 4-4-2 body.
The car being cloned, the driver, is a Cutlass Supreme.
I'm not concerned with absolute correctness with this car.

The body is being used to rebody another car.
The trim tag info on the new body will not match the car that
is being rebodied.
The car being rebodied is NOT a clone. It is an original 4-4-2.

Koda

Ok, so he is taking a vin tag and a powertrain and a frame (all from a 442 post car 4 speed) and using a donor body, and he wants a trim tag to replace the destroyed one that says all the info the post 442 was originally. Why is arguing over this a thing, other than Diego likes to argue about everything?

Allan R

What would be really helpful to Ed is if he has a picture of the original trim tag, or information from it that will correctly represent his car. A reproduction of that information isn't going to hurt anything and will simply complete the job he wants to do.

Diego

You're just upset because I called you out on the WAC thread.

There is no good reason to replace a trim tag on a car in which it doesn't belong. I understand Ed is an esteemed member of the Olds community but there's nothing good that comes out of adjust a car's pedigree. It's his car so he can do what he wants, but I think it's enough to be satisfied with a clone without altering the pedigree with a tag. :twocents:

66-3X2 442

A rebody is not a clone.

oldcutlass

OK let me get this straight, you are reusinig the 442 frame and powertrain that was left from a car that was involved in a fire. There was no insurance claim and it wasn't bought as salvage. You removed the body off this damaged 442 car and are going to use a Cutlass body in place. You are going to transfer the vin from the damaged body to the new body and want to replicate the original cowl tag for the damaged car on the new body. The frame on the car your building matches the vin tag your using in the rebodied car and all the equipment will be correct?

Diego

Whatever you call it, transferring tags is unnecessary. In some cases, like with a VIN, it's illegal.

Charlie Jones

Be careful.
Switching body data tags MIGHT be legal.
Switching a VIN tag to another body is NOT!

67442nut

At last, John and Eric, someone understands.
To be fair, I think I've confused some of the guys by bringing up the cloned Cutlass, a different car.
The car to be rebodied is a REAL 4-4-2 which I'd like to put back as correct as possible.
Actually, considering some past exchanges I've had with Diego, I think he's been very civilized about this thread.


Allan,
Actually, I DO have a pic of a trim tag that is almost identical to what I need.
The blue w/black vinyl post car on eBay that was discussed recently in another thread is a twin to my car
except mine had SSI wheels and CD ignition.
Turns out I won't really need it. The guys that do the repro data tags can make one if I simply give them a list of how my car is equipped.

Charlie, I appreciate your input, but, if what you say is true, are all the people who have rebodied cars
breaking the law?